Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Youth Volunteers Help Tutong Flood Victims

Tutong - Working night and day since Wednesday, 44 volunteers from the Gemilang Association, a non-profitable organisation, are working relentlessly in helping residents in the flood-affected areas of the Tutong District.

Based in three villages of Lubok Pulau, Tanjong Maya and Penapar, the volunteers are helping to distribute rations from the Community Development Department and help fulfill any needs of affected residents.

"The volunteer youth from the Gemilang Association have responded to the call for caring youths in the country by contributing their time and effort to help the affected residents," he said at the Tanjong Maya Community Hall.

The volunteers have provided assistance to residents on main roads of Tanjong Maya, Sepakon, Bukit Nibong, Bangungos, Sebakit Bawah and Atas and Meranti.

Fadhlina Bakar, secretary general, said "everyone is tired. However, as long as we can help to provide assistance to the affected residents, we will be happy.

"Today (Friday) is our third day here.

We work from 7am until around midnight to provide assistance.

We also gave out our contact numbers to villagers and heads of villages in case they need our help when we stand down after midnight.

"The minister's visits to the community hall and the praise given to the volunteers have given us a sense of gratitude and appreciation," she said.

Having 126 members with the majority from Tutong District, she said "we attracting more youth to join the association and to help the country in any emergency, to be on the spot and do as much as they can."

She said in 2009, the Gemilang Association also helped residents in the flood- affected areas of Tutong District.

That was a bigger flood than this year's flood.

Also present during the minister's visit was Mohammad Amali bin Hamdan, the president of Gemilang.